Cigar Review – Vega Fina Sumum Edicion Especial 2010

Originally only available to U.K. retailers, the Vega Fina Sumum Edicion Especial 2010 has recently been released in the U.S. in limited quantities. The state-side version of this stogie comes in the Robusto (5×54) size only, and without the individual metal tubes that served as packaging for the European version. I only recently discovered the super-mellow smoothness of the original Vega Fina, and I was definitely curious to see what this special release had to offer. Today I set out with a sample, to see what our friends across the water have been enjoying for the past couple years.

The stick had a sturdy and meaty look and feel to it, sporting a creamy brown, toothy and veiny Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Visible spots of oily build-up throughout the wrapper told me that this was a well-aged stogie. Pre-light draws were surprisingly sweet and woody, and the draw was firm, but fair.

Upon lighting up, I was met with a laid-back taste of creamy cedar, with just the faintest hint of pepper in the background. The smoke was creamy and light, and the cigar was burning evenly and producing a solid, stark-white ash. After a few puffs, I detected a subtle sweetness softly complimenting the smooth, woody flavor of the cigar. Noticeably absent was the “harshness” I often get from the first inch or so of a stogie; this one was silky-smooth from the get-go.

As I burned into the second third, the caramelly-sweetness became more pronounced, and relaxed notes of cedar and cocoa swirled around a base of rich tobacco flavor.

The stogie continued to burn nice and cool, and flavors remained consistent, though they came across a little stronger once the natural tobacco oils had a chance to accumulate and mingle a bit.

By the time I reached the final third of the stogie I had accumulated a mountain of perfect white ash, which I saw as a testament to the solid craftsmanship that went into this cigar. Notes of coffee, cream, dried fruit and leather were present, as well as a savory tobacco taste, which picked up a natural spiciness as I burned closer and closer to the nub. With about ¾ of an inch remaining, I finally laid it to rest.

While I wouldn’t call the Vega Fina Sumum an “eventful” smoke, it was certainly tasty, and unwaveringly enjoyable from start to finish. This smooth stogie was a nice, relaxing change of pace from all the “in-your-face” full-bodied sticks I’ve sampled lately, and featured some of the most precise construction I’ve ever seen on a cigar. I was drinking a dark-roast coffee as I smoked, and it turned out to be a good pairing with this cigar, with the deeply rich flavor of the coffee drawing out and complimenting subtleties in the smoke. I give the Vega Fina Sumum Edicion Especial 2010 a B grade, and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a solid smoke with rich, uncomplicated flavor and zero maintenance required. These won’t be around forever, but while they are, they are definitely worth checking out.

Have any questions or comments about our latest post? Feel free to post them below, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest cigar news, updates, and reviews.